Departmental Employees

Mr. Keetch:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people are employed by her Department. [76137]

Alun Michael:
Details of the number of people employed by Defra are available in table 5.6 of the 2002 Departmental Report.

Agricultural Wages Board

Hugh Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who the

21 Oct 2002 : Column 5W

independent members appointed by her Department to the Agricultural Wages Board are; and how many of the meetings of the AWB each has attended in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002. [75916]

Alun Michael:
There are five independent members of the Agricultural Wages Board (AWB) for England and Wales. All are nominated jointly by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the National Assembly for Wales. The current independent members are:

Professor John Andrews (Chairman)

Mrs. Jacquie Findlay

Mrs. Myra Hodgson

Dr. Hugh Billot

Professor Ian Smith

The AWB Secretary has confirmed that the meetings attended by the independent members are as follows:

2001

2002

Number of Board meetings held*

3

4

Number of meetings attended:

John Andrews

3

4

Jacquie Findlay

1

1

Myra Hodgson

2

3

Hugh Billot

3

4

Ian Smith

2

1

Note:

* This excludes working party or other informal meetings

Correspondence

David Winnick:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his letter of 19 August regarding a constituent, reference 174365. [74913]

WALES

Consultancies

David Davis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list external (a) public relations/communications companies, (b) advertising and marketing companies, (c) management consultancies (d) accountancy companies, (e) banking firms, (f) individual consultants and (g) other specialist consultancies used by his Department since June 2001; what actions those consultancies/companies have performed within his Department; and what costs have been incurred through use of these consultancies/companies. [74679]

Mr. Paul Murphy:
Since June 2001 the Wales Office has employed no consultants under (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e).

Since June 2001 the Wales Office has employed a firm of consultants called Inbucon who undertook a staffing review, one legal consultant called Helen Bennett Associates, who gave specific legal guidance to the Wales Office and Open Connections a records

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management consultancy firm, who advised on improving the document and records management systems.

The cost of using these consultants is commercially confidential.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Catering Services

Mr. Stunell:
To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, (1) what plans the Commission has to cap the subsidy for catering over the period of the Three Year Strategic Plan; [73759]

(2) what steps the Commission is planning to reduce the annual subsidy for catering set out on page 16 of the 24th Annual report of the Commission. [73760]

Mr. Kirkwood:
The Commission is satisfied that the Refreshment Department achieves value for money in the delivery of its services, given the nature of the services required by the House's sitting patterns.

Both the Commission and the Finance and Services Committee see these issues as important elements in the House's three-year financial plans. The Commission has asked the Finance and Services Committee to examine the recommendations of the Catering Committee's recent Report on Refreshment Facilities in the House of Commons, 1 especially in the light of the Modernisation Committee's proposals for changes to the House's working patterns. It would be premature for the Commission to make any long-term decision about the appropriate cost of catering services until the extent of these changes has become apparent and the Finance and Services Committee has considered these matters. No doubt my hon. Friend, as a member of the Committee, will contribute fully to that consideration.

Note:

1 Refreshment Facilities in the House of Commons, Catering Committee, First Report 200102

New Palace Yard

Sir Nicholas Winterton:
To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make a statement on the total cost of the works to install new security infrastructure in New Palace Yard, carried out during the summer adjournment. [74953]

Mr. Kirkwood:
As I am sure the hon. Gentleman will understand, it is longstanding practice not to comment on the details of security expenditure or arrangements on the Parliamentary Estate.

TRANSPORT

Rail Operating Companies

Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many rail operating companies have achieved their targets for passenger services in the last 12 months; how many have been fined for non-compliance; how many franchises have now been

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continued; and how many operating companies are complying with the terms of their original franchises in relation to payments to the S.R.A. [74787]

Mr. Spellar:
All franchise agreements contain thresholds for cancellations which, if breached, can result in enforcement action. Arriva Trains Northern is the only company to have paid a penalty in the last 12 months as part of enforcement action.

Most train operators are also subject to a contractual performance regime. Details of monies paid under this regime are contained in the Strategic Rail Authority's On Track publication, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House. Train operators also have performance targets in their Passengers' Charters against which compensation to passengers is based.

No further extensions to franchises have been agreed since my answer to the hon. Member for Bath on 24 May 2002, Official Report, column 616.

Only a small number of train operating companies are contractually required under their original or revised agreements to have paid premiums to the Strategic Rail Authority. To date, all of those companies have complied with their franchise terms in that respect. Information on payments to and from train operators can be found in the Authority's Annual Report, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.

Alconbury Airfield

Mr. Djanogly:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the forecast regularity of flights is in (a) 2015 and (b) 2030 in connection with the proposals relating to Alconbury airfield contained in the Department's Consultation, The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East). [74830]

Mr. Jamieson: The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East) main consultation document is seeking views on a range of options, one of which is a small-scale airport development at Alconbury. Chapters 12 and 15 of the Stage Two appraisal findings report presents the findings relevant to Alconbury for both passenger and freight movements.

This indicates that, in a scenario where no additional runway capacity is provided at major airports in the region, Alconbury is forecast to handle nearly 70,000 passenger air transport movements (PATMs) and 11,000 freight ATMs in 2015. This rises to just over 70,000 PATMs and 30,000 freight ATMs in 2030.

If additional runway capacity is provided at major airports in the south east, both passenger and freight forecasts indicate that only around one-fifth of this traffic will be attracted to Alconbury.

Mr. Djanogly:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the consultation findings are to be made public so far as they relate to Alconbury airfield; what further procedures and consultation will take place; and when. [74829]

Mr. Jamieson: The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East) main consultation document sets out the process relating to

21 Oct 2002 : Column 8W

the disclosure of responses (Annex G, page 172). Responses to this consultation will inform Minister's decisions on the policies to be included in the air transport White Paper, which we plan to publish next year.

If the White Paper favours the Alconbury option, it would then be for a promoter to work up the detailed development plans, discuss these with affected parties and apply for planning permission through the normal land use planning system.

Mr. Djanogly:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what areas and how many people will be exposed to different amounts of aircraft noise (a) at night in (i) 2015 and (ii) 2030 and (b) in 2030 based on an average six hour day in connection with the proposals relating to Alconbury airfield contained in the Department's Consultation, The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East). [74822]

Mr. Jamieson:
The South East and East of England Regional Air Services study (SERAS) analysis included illustrative examples of night-time noise footprints for all airport options. The approach adopted is set out in paragraph 6.9.4 of the SERAS stage two appraisal findings report and the results of this work, relevant to the Alconbury option, are presented in paragraphs 12.8.3 and 12.8.4.

These indicate that, using the 90dBA SEL (sound exposure level) footprint for the noisiest aircraft envisaged operating at night, between 300 and 10,600 people might be contained within the footprintsubject to airport operation.

The numbers of people affected with this option by different amounts of aircraft noise (daytime) was not assessed at 2030.

Copies of the above report are available in the House libraries.

Mr. Djanogly:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to what extent local residents will be entitled to compensation; what the qualifications or compensation will be; how the level of compensation will be assessed; and who will pay such compensation in connection with the proposals relating to Alconbury airfield contained in the Department's Consultation, The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East). [74836]

Mr. Jamieson:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Hayes and Harlington (Mr. McDonnell) on 15 October 2002, Official Report, columns 721W22W.

Mr. Djanogly:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what types of aeroplanes will be capable of using the proposed airport at Alconbury. [74826]

Mr. Jamieson:
With a runway length of over 2,700 metres aircraft up to Boeing 747 size could use Alconbury (but not at maximum loads).

The option of a small-scale development at Alconbury, presented in The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East) consultation document, allows for the use of a typical aircraft of the Boeing 737700 type.

21 Oct 2002 : Column 9W

Mr. Djanogly:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the passenger terminal at Alconbury airfield will be built to accommodate the maximum capacity of five million passengers from the outset of operation. [74825]

Mr. Jamieson: The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East) main consultation document is seeking views on a range of options, one of which is a small-scale airport development at Alconbury. Responses to this consultation will inform Minister's decisions on the policies to be published in the air transport White Paper.

If the White Paper favours the Alconbury option, the level of development and how it would be phased would depend on the commercial judgement of the proposer/developer of the airport.

Mr. Djanogly:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what impact the ADL Planning Inspectorate report will have on the proposals relating to Alconbury airfield contained in the Department's Consultation, The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East). [74833]

Mr. Jamieson:
I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 15 October 2002, Official Report, column 721W.

Mr. Djanogly:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to review the CHUMMS proposals with regard to airport traffic (a) in connection with Huntingdon to Cambridge public transport and (b) in connection with proposed changes to the A14; and what estimate he has made of the increase in use of the A1 in connection with the proposals relating to Alconbury airfield contained in the Department's Consultation, The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East). [74832]

Mr. Jamieson:
There are no plans at present to review the findings of the Cambridge to Huntingdon Multi-Modal study (CHUMMS) in the light of the public consultations that are currently taking place with respect to the South East and East of England Regional Air Services study (SERAS). The consultation is seeking views on a range of airport development options in the South East and East of England, one of which is a small-scale airport development at Alconbury. It would be inappropriate at this stage to review the findings of CHUMMS with respect to all these options. If Alconbury is supported in the Air Transport White Paper, the implications will then have to be considered by the Regional Planning Body.

Mr. Djanogly:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many jobs are forecast (a) by 2011 and (b) by 2012 in connection with the proposals relating to Alconbury airfield contained in the Department's Consultation, The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East). [74823]

Mr. Jamieson:
The South East and East of England Regional Air Services study (SERAS) identified, in broad terms and for all options, the employment that might be generated. A summary of the employment methodology used is outlined in the SERAS stage two appraisal findings report (section 6.11).

21 Oct 2002 : Column 10W

The results of this appraisal, relevant to the Alconbury option, are shown in section 12.10 of the SERAS stage two appraisal findings report. This indicates that around 12,000 direct jobs might be associated with Alconbury, based on 5 million passengers per annum (mppa) and around 1 million tonnes of freight in 2015.

Mr. Djanogly:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the probability of water flooding in connection with the proposals relating to Alconbury airfield contained in the Department's Consultation, The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom: South East; and what contingency plans he will put in place to deal with this. [74831]

Mr. Jamieson:
A summary of the appraisal methodology regarding the water environment is outlined in the SERAS stage two appraisal findings report (section 6.8). The results of this appraisal, relevant to the Alconbury option, are summarised in paragraphs 12.7.1 and 12.7.2 of the same document. Copies of this report are available in the House libraries. The report notes that the airfield footprint does not coincide with the 1 in 100 year flood plain.

Mr. Djanogly:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the Government's policy is on permitting an airport to proceed on the basis of (a) only passenger flights but no freight flights and (b) only freight flights and no passenger flights in connection with the proposals relating to Alconbury airfield contained in the Department's Consultation, The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom: South East. [74824]

Mr. Jamieson:
The consultation on the Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East) includes the option for a small-scale development of Alconbury as a possible new airport to provide a mixture of dedicated air freight, express parcel handling, third party maintenance, and low cost passenger operations. We are not consulting on any other options for Alconbury airfield, but we will, of course, consider all responses we receive.

Mr. Djanogly:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to what extent the completion of the proposals relating to Alconbury airfield contained in the Department's Consultation, The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom: South East, is reliant on the expansion of existing airports. [74828]

Mr. Jamieson: The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East) main consultation document is seeking views on a range of options, one of which is a small-scale airport development at Alconbury.

As the document makes clear (chapter 12), the precise future role of the other south-east airports depends on two main factors; firstly the amount and timing of any future capacity provided at the main airports and elsewhere and secondly, the commercial choices made by passengers and airlines. Paragraph 12.23 indicates the forecast use of the Alconbury option under scenarios where runways are provided at major airports in the region and where they are not.

21 Oct 2002 : Column 11W

Responses to this consultation will inform Minister's decisions on the policies to be published in the air transport White Paper.

Mr. Djanogly:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what indication of interest the Government have received from (a) (i) air passenger companies and (ii) freight carriers to use and (b) airport operating companies to operate Alconbury airport. [74835]

Mr. Jamieson: The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East) is seeking views from all interested parties, including passenger and freight airlines and airport operators, on a range of options, one of which is a small-scale development at Alconbury.

If this option is supported in the air transport White Paper, it would then be for a promoter to submit detailed proposals through the land use planning system.